Linux for Windows users: Installing Ubuntu

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	TOP STORY Linux for Windows users: Installing Ubuntu
	By David Robinson In a February article, we gave a brief introduction to Linux and its history, showing why some Windows users might want to experiment with this open-source OS. This follow-up story will tell you how to install and run one of the more popular Linux distributions — Ubuntu.

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The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/linux-for-windows-users-installing-ubuntu (paid content, opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

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I subscribe to Windows Secrets to get information on Microsoft Windows, not how to install and use other operating systems. I am not partisan and use other operating systems apart from Windows, but I find it objectionable that Windows Secrets is being used to proselytize other operating systems.

If I wanted to get info on Ubuntu or Linux, then I’d subscribe to the appropriate newsletter and forums. There are plenty of them out there.

If you continue in this vein I’ll simply cancel my subscription and walk away.

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I was compelled to register just to add my objection to this article. I echo cyclops’ sentiments. This is Windows Secrets, not Linux Secrets. I kindly ask that you stop publishing these articles. If you continue to do so I, like cyclops, will cancel my subscription.

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I subscribe to Windows Secrets to get information on Microsoft Windows, not how to install and use other operating systems. I am not partisan and use other operating systems apart from Windows, but I find it objectionable that Windows Secrets is being used to proselytize other operating systems.

If I wanted to get info on Ubuntu or Linux, then I’d subscribe to the appropriate newsletter and forums. There are plenty of them out there.

If you continue in this vein I’ll simply cancel my subscription and walk away.

It has been “The Year of Linux” for nearly two decades. Linux probably is wonderful and I agree both Android and Apple used it as the basis for parts (if not most) of their O/S. That said, the Linux community is insufferably arrogant and brutal to newbies. There are a many apps to choose from. So many, in fact, the community is guilty of a first month salesperson’s mistake of overwhelming the prospect with options. Whenever that happens, the safe selection is ‘none of the above’.

Wrap Linux in a pretty package, select and perfect a series of apps that mimic the productivity of Apple, Android, and Windows. Decide which two or three Linux distros the community will support and encourage and allow the user a clean choice. Until that day, Linux is obfuscation personified.

Yes. I know… Linux is all about choices. So many most choose not to make a mistake.

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I subscribe to Windows Secrets to get information on Microsoft Windows, not how to install and use other operating systems. I am not partisan and use other operating systems apart from Windows, but I find it objectionable that Windows Secrets is being used to proselytize other operating systems.

If I wanted to get info on Ubuntu or Linux, then I’d subscribe to the appropriate newsletter and forums. There are plenty of them out there.

If you continue in this vein I’ll simply cancel my subscription and walk away.

Just pointing out that the article did mention installing a Linux distro as a virtual OS that can be used along side a running MS Windows installation.
As such, Linux becomes essentially likened to an application that could be useful to some members.

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As a long time dabbler in Linux (~1996), I found your article on the Ubuntu installation both interesting and well done. Thanks.

As you noted, Ubuntu, which was a favorite for many years, now has the Unity interface, which is, indeed, similar in many ways to the often bashed Windows 8 metro stuff.

It’s the reason I looked for an alternative and found Linux Mint, which defaults to a much more familiar desktop, very much like Windows 7, in fact. So if anyone’s interested in trying Linux and would prefer not to try to learn the odd Unity desktop, try Linux Mint. Of course, one of the features of Linux is you can load any of the very many desktop managers, including Mint’s “Cinnamon” right on Ubuntu, but why go through that when they’re both based on the debian distributions anyway? Enjoy!

I am shocked, however, at the narrow mindedness of a couple of folks who threaten to abandon an excellent source of computer information over ONE article describing something other than Windows. While I enjoy several computer related email list mailings, I don’t complain if one isn’t perfect for my interests, I just don’t read it! Frankly, if they were my employee and had this frame of mind, I’d NOT want them to remain as an employee. I’d have to say most larger companies already have a mix of OS in their environment and even if not supporting non-Windows systems, it’s a good idea to know what else is going on in the world (meaning the business). Even though, before retirement, I was in a shop that was mainly Windows and I made my living supporting it, I often used Linux to solve a problem whether related to Windows or some other system/network problem, and our shop had all sorts of OSs there, from VAXs to Suns and some Linux boxes as well.

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Don’t listen to the nonsense about not doing articles on Linux/Ubuntu! Microsoft created a very poor product called Surface RT, which I own and hate. It is not useable for many reasons and their $900 million write-off supports my conclusions. Next, Windows 8 was a complete debacle. It’s obvious that Mr. Gates was the whole company, but he went off the deep end with draconian business practices which resulted in anti-trust lawsuits by the government. OK, so nothing is perfect, but the continued lack of security, even the government can’t keep the White House computer from being hacked, is a concern to me because it’s just a matter of time till the exponentially growing ID theft and hacking catches up with the general public. More than likely your personal data including SSN are in files on the black market right now and will be abused in the future.

I have 11 computers ranging from old to the newest and fastest. I hate the Microsoft Account because it is only a matter of time until Microsoft gets hacked. I set up my computers to do different tasks, financial, email, RC simulaltion, video editing, Internet. Windows provides lots of tools and functionality thru RDC, Home Group, etc, but security and reliability have made it more important to keep systems isolated on the LAN and from the Internet. If security does not improve, I will not trust Microsoft to keep Microsoft Account safe and my current option is to switch to Linux, specifically Ubuntu or another distribution if it is more secure. Security is far more important than anyone thinks and if not addressed you will see total chaos in our future infrastructure. Imagine if TV, power grid, public transportation, medical records, financial companies, and energy systems all get compromised or destroyed. If politics, greed, and stupidity continue to dominate rational thinking, the future will be painful. If big corporations continue to elect our representatives and their only priority is rules to benefit the rich and powerful, then we are destined to a rude awakening.

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GOODBYE, have a nice day!

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So, what are you afraid of, Cyclops?

Oh, yeah!

I understand…a Cyclops has only 1 eye,
so you miss the depth of understanding
new, useful alternative -OR- complementary tools…

check it out:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Cyclops&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US&client=palemoon

I tried Linux (ubuntu) in my case,
and never looked back.

So, thanks for this series, Windows Secrets.
Keep ’em coming…
Good move!

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How do I get a screen resolution other than 640×480. There’s no documentation telling how. At this screen size, the OS is basically useless.

Am running 64bit in a VirtualBox 4.3.12 environment.

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I personally don’t get the objection to one article on a “different technology”…given that 99% of the total content of Windows Secrets is Windows-based.

The Susan Bradley Patch Watch column alone is well worth the price of subscription (which, BTW you determine what you pay), not to mention Fred Langa’s column, which I have followed for many years.

If you ever have to make, or use a Linux boot disk to fix or restore your system, it helps to know a little about Linux.

Here’s a good example of using Linux to fix Windows problems…

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31804/the-10-cleverest-ways-to-use-linux-to-fix-your-windows-pc/

Except you didn’t do an article on how to fix a Windows problem with Linux – it was an article on how install Linux. The previous and this article had several partisan comments about Windows vs Linux that have nothing to do with describing the technology or solving technical issues. They smack of proselytism for Linux.

I also use Linux, btw. And first installed one of the Mark Shuttleworth’s first Ubuntu distros many years ago.

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Nothing wrong with Ubuntu cyclops. The fun was installing the 64-bit version in a virtual machine (did so over a year ago and then had to do the same when I had to replace my system this past summer). Never bad to learn how other OSs work.

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Why was my initial reply not posted? It said “awaiting moderator approval” or words to that effect, and it’s still not here…

You make the weak case that Linux can be used to fix Windows problems. Sure it can. But that was not your article – you did not show how to use a bootable Linux disk to fix Windows. Rather, you simply showed how to install Linux as an alternative to Windows.

Let me reiterate: I am not partisan. I use and have used Linux for years. I installed one of Mark Shuttleworth’s first distros of Ubuntu. Canonical’s main development office is just around the corner.

What I object to you is the proselytising of Linux in a Windows newsletter. This is not the first – there was another a week or two ago. And they both make gratuitous comments from a partisan perspective. That is objectionable.

Like Altos above, I went through the whole effort of registereing for yet another forum precisely to register my objection. I have subscribed to Fred Langa’s newsletter more or less since he started, and that’s how I ended up in Windows Secrets.

But you seem determined to turn it into something else.

There are far better newsletters and articles on how to install Linux (of whatever distro) than this one in a Windows newsletter called Windows Secrets.

Please stick to the knitting. Or your customers will find another jersey. I’m teetering.

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Some of us don’t live in a Windows only world anymore. Love Windows, but your article helped me bring up Ubuntu on an older laptop. The scientific community at my university is Linux and I can now live comfortably in both worlds.

Thanks

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I love Ubuntu and used it exclusively for everyday stuff, it is way more secure, and since several of the programs I use are Windows only I had my computer set up for dual boot into both OS’s. But Ubuntu changed their installation, if I remember correctly they quit using grub during installation, making dual boot installation confusing, for me, on my new laptop. So now, I would love to put Ubuntu on my laptop but want to keep Windows 7, but I’m not sure how to do it. I’ve tried before and ended up installing over Windows 7 and had to reinstall 7.

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I love Ubuntu and used it exclusively for everyday stuff, it is way more secure, and since several of the programs I use are Windows only I had my computer set up for dual boot into both OS’s. But Ubuntu changed their installation, if I remember correctly they quit using grub during installation, making dual boot installation confusing, for me, on my new laptop. So now, I would love to put Ubuntu on my laptop but want to keep Windows 7, but I’m not sure how to do it. I’ve tried before and ended up installing over Windows 7 and had to reinstall 7.

I would instal Ubuntu as a virtual OS and keep Win 7 as the boot OS.
I’ve done this in the past with Ubuntu and Mint. I preferred Mint and deleted Ubuntu.
Advantages to virtual……Both OSs can work concurrently. no conflict with boot loaders, backing up the virtual install is as simple as copying the folder the virtual OS resides in.

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IMO….well written article that avoids the typical fanboy bias.

However, having installed Ubuntu in the past and not liked it, it’s not a viable option for me at this time.
I do like the idea of Linux Live CDs to a great degree as alternatives to installed Linux distros.
This post was written on an old home built computer situated in my living room ,with Puppy Linux as it’s OS and Firefox 37.0.1 as it’s browser.
I didn’t feel like spending hard earned money on a new device in order to maintain reasonable security and the age and specs of this computer just aren’t up to functioning well with a current MS Windows operating system.

I’m a member here to learn how to use my computer advantageously. When a distro of Linux can run concurrently on a MS Windows machine, as a virtual OS……I have an advantage of running the ‘best of both worlds’ together at the same time on my office computer.

Hopefully, there will be an article on Linux Live CDs in the near future for those that want to revive old hardware.

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Glad to get info on using Linux too as a secondary OS on my system. It is beneficial for those using older versions of WINDOWS (ie. XP) yet still want to use the internet safely. Additionally, we need to prepare Windows users (and keep them appraised to new technology) as “time may come when Windows is no longer a good OS”; competition vs. MS is good too.

My main concern, however, is that any articles on Linux should also explain and/or give links as how to install/use the Linux Mint version (as this is also very popular); the various approaches could use guidance. Other versions also exist and guidance as where to go for good install info/intro use would be helpful.

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Glad to get info on using Linux too as a secondary OS on my system. It is beneficial for those using older versions of WINDOWS (ie. XP) yet still want to use the internet safely. Additionally, we need to prepare Windows users (and keep them appraised to new technology) as “time may come when Windows is no longer a good OS”; competition vs. MS is good too.

My main concern, however, is that any articles on Linux should also explain and/or give links as how to install/use the Linux Mint version (as this is also very popular); the various approaches could use guidance. Other versions also exist and guidance as where to go for good install info/intro use would be helpful.

Even with my enjoying the minor diversion of some Linux info on a Windows email list, there’s no way to link/list all the Linux help for all the Linux distributions, much less detailed info on each one and it’s applications, and really doesn’t belong on the Windows Secrets list.

Linux has always been a user supported OS, even though there are paid support versions (e.g. RedHat), so google is your friend with ANY Linux questions, as well as the home websites of whatever Linux distributions you are interested in specifically, especially for installation of that distro.

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I realize that there are MANY distros, but only several of the top ones most commonly used should be noted. With a limitation needed, anything that most Windows users/ less advanced computer users would try should be addressed.

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Windows Secrets is one of the only newsletters that I always read.

I enjoyed the article.

I am typing this on a Linux Mint/Cinnamon laptop which dates from the early Vista days. My windows machine is running on the desk sitting next to this one.

I have been experimenting with a ton of Linux distro live CDs in the past year, mostly with the aim of updating some old WinXP PCs for a non-profit. They need the computers for doing data entry online and operating a phone bank.

Of the distros I have tried, Linux Mint Cinnamon and LXLE have been the standouts.

I like Mint Cinnamon edition because many things just seem to work the way you’d expect them to, like dragging an icon to the task bar…

LXLE is based on Ubuntu and has a lightweight desktop so it works better on older PCs. I liked it because it has great hardware detection, it’s pretty, and it’s fast. Hardware detection has been one of the great challenges of this little project. The old Broadcom wifi cards and SIS video cards have been tricky to get going. LXLE is specifically designed to replace Windows, and when you log in you can choose to use an XP desktop paradigm.

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Ah yes, the OS flame wars visit Windows Secrets! Much like the first time that PC Magazine had the audacity to mention (gasp) an Apple product.

I’ve been subscribing since the LangaList days and finally felt compelled to register for the lounge to respond to this . . . . discussion. I enjoyed the article and would appreciate any additional insights that your writers can offer; however, I hesitate to ask you to publish more since it might cost you the subscriptions of those people who claim to value your information but apparently cannot tolerate an occasional article that is not relevant to them personally.

I’ve been “evaluating” Linux for several years now. The first project was to install Virtual Box on my Win7 desktop so I could explore some different Linux distributions. Later, when the old WinXP desktop that I was using as a home fileserver started showing it’s age I replaced it with another used desktop running Ubuntu Server. Configuring that command line version of Linux helped me understand Linux better. (I’ve since replaced the old desktop “server” with a Raspberry Pi and an external drive bay.) Now I’m dual booting my primary desktop — Win7 (still with Virtual Box) and Ubuntu 14.10 (with Win7 running in Virtual Box). I choose Ubuntu primarily for the wide availability of applications, help, & support. It may eventually become my primary desktop — although I suspect that I will always have a handful of Windows applications running also.

So yes, I would enjoy occasional article about Linux. In fact, I promise not to whine and complain if you someday publish an article about OSX (although personally I never touch the stuff!).

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I have to live in a largely Microsoft world because that is what I have to use for work, but even for die-hard Windows users, Linux has a lot to offer. My old laptops, used by the kids, both run Ubuntu, and I run two Fedora Linux servers. One of these is a Home Server (Amahi), which provides the usual range of network folders, backup, a music server (Logitech Media Server and a few Squeezeboxes), web filtering (Squid with squidGuard and DansGuardian to limit what the kids can access). The other server runs Asterisk, the open source PBX, which runs the phone system in the house, providing me with VoIP lines for work, as well as filtering and blacklisting calls). Apart from the server running Asterisk (which is a low-power SSD-based micro-server), all my Linux installations are on old PCs/laptops which were not longer powerful enough to be used as primary machines running Windows.

You don’t have to be running Linux on your individual PCs or laptops to make use of it. There are lots of ways that a knowledge of Linux can enhance Windows in a domestic setting, and I look forward to reading more about these in future editions of Windows Secrets.

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VirtualBox is telling Linux that you have a low res monitor.
This post should answer your question.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/452108/cannot-change-screen-size-from-640×480-after-14-04-installation-on-virtualbox-os

cheers, Paul

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@Ken Kashmarek —
NVIDIA DRIVERS in UBUNTU:

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop with hybrid NVidia-Intel graphics. This was also a nightmare to configure to work with Ubuntu Linux. My solution is to go to Software Sources under Software and Updates. Enable Ubuntu Extras. Choose the Ubuntu Extras NVidia 331 kernel-level driver from the Additional Drivers tab. This is a true NVidia driver and works better than the generic open-source versions. In your case, this may be all you need. This choice means that future kernel-level updates and upgrades should not wreck your desktop or graphics settings. (At least not until Mir is introduced in the Ubuntu 15.10 or 16.04 LTS releases.)

For me there was one more step to take. I installed the NVidia-Intel mode switching AppIndicator (Named Prime Indicator), so that I can manually select whether to run in Intel (power saving) mode, or NVidia (performance) mode. Right now, that’s the state of the art with hybrid graphics in the Unity Interface with the current Ubuntu graphics stack.

As I say, if yours is simply a full-featured discreet NVidia graphics card, the Proprietary NVidia-331 Driver will probably serve your needs all by itself. Try it.

-- rc primak

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In think it is indeed not appropriate to insist that Windows Secrets ignore other Operating Systems entirely. That said…

Focusing on Windows, especially the current Windows 8.1 and upcoming Windows 10, seems entirely appropriate for Windows Secrets Newsletter. In the Lounge where we have more space, we have areas for other OSes than Windows. There’s also at least one area for mobile platforms like iOS and Android (very Linux-like).

So if there is sufficient interest, the Lounge can keep an area for Other OSes and include Linux in there. Seems entirely reasonable.

Should there be an occasional article in Windows Secrets about Linux? That depends on how much activity there is in the Lounge, indicating reader interest in exploring Linux. If there were a lot of postings and a lot of activity in the Linux area of the Lounge, I’d say there’s sufficient reader interest to justify the occasional Linux How-To article. But this does not seem to me to be the case. While not entirely inactive, the Linux area of the Lounge seems awfully quiet most weeks.

A Google Search shows that there are Linux-oriented sites where there is a lot of active (and Newbie-friendly, BTW) discussion on a number of Linux-specific topics. WebUpd8te and several Ubuntu forum sites have excellent How-Tos and tutorials, the majority focusing on Ubuntu Linux. These are excellent web resources for anyone interested in learning more about or even trying out, Linux on the desktop. (FWIW, there are much more Windows-similar Linux distros than Ubuntu. Check these out once in awhile, folks.)

Rather than spend a lot of time and space in Windows Secrets going into details about Linux, I’d rather see contributors focus on Windows and give references to other sites for more complete information and specific How-Tos for Linux (or Mac, iOS, Android or Blackberry for that matter).

I’d like Windows Secrets to keep its focus on Windows.

I say this as an 80-percent Ubuntu Linux, 20 percent Windows (7 and 8.1) user. I don’t mind going to two or three newsletters to get the best information on these different OSes.

-- rc primak

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+1 steve[/FONT]

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Happy paid subscriber here. I don’t mind an occasional column about Linux; I sometimes experiment with live CD’s. I don’t consider such information useless. What I usually skip are all the columns about 8.1 and 10, since I stubbornly cling to my Win 7 (and even Vista) machines. Doesn’t mean I will dump Windows Secrets. When extended support for Win 7 ends, maybe Linux will be ready for prime time.

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All of the above Linux problems should remind us Image Backups PLEASE :rolleyes:
And these little bits of advice

Use the LTS (long term support) version , just what it says if you don’t want to reinstall or risk a version upgrade.

DO NOT install Linux on a cohabitated disk ( or even computer), Disable all other disks before installing and then figure out how to make LILO or GRUB play nice. I and a Linux speaking person where I work have both made a computer unbootable….

And may I say I just LOVE my USB/eSATA drive dock,,,,,,

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Adding to this discussion…

I managed to recover my original Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS system and successfully boot into it.

Yippee!!!

Wow, that was quite a saga. I know what those are like. It’s such a thrill when it finally works! (whatever “it” was)

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I put Linux Mint 17.1 [based upon Ubuntu/Debian] on a 4-year-old HP Notebook with 4GB RAM and a 120GB SSD, works fine and quiet. Only had to install printer drivers.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Just as a little post-script to this discussion thread, I do some risky things, like dual-booting with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 14.04 (current with all available updates and interim upgrades). And running a single internal hard drive with ten partitions (including the Extended Partition and the Linux Swap Partition and the Windows 7 “System” Partition — not to be confused with the Windows 7 Recovery Partition). This makes having a Backup Drive and knowing how to use CloneZilla Live (Trusty) coming and going, absolute necessities (along with having two other copies of the Linux System Backups on separate external hard drives).

As per the recent Windows Secrets Newsletter articles on Crypto-Locker and its kin, I never connect a backup drive to any device while the device is running with Internet Access enabled. (This means running my Transformer Book (Windows 8.1) through an Administrator Local Account when performing maintenance on the device.)

With sufficient backups, Linux tweaking and updating aren’t really so scary at all. At most, a Restore operation may involve running gParted, CloneZilla and for the Windows side, Mini-Tool Partition Wizard. The only other tools I’ve needed were from the Lazesoft Recovery Suite (bootable USB or CD rescue tools, including a Windows Product Key recovery tool which can even work where the License Key is embedded in the BIOS in Windows 8 OEM devices) (info[/url]) and the Windows EaseUS or Macrium Reflect Rescue Media.

(For the Windows 8 License Key, Nir Sofer also has a NirSoft utility called ProduKey, which works well, but runs afoul of Windows security software, as it is technically a hacking tool — info — read version history, and see it does recover the License Key from the Windows 8 OEM BIOS format. I prefer Lazesoft due to its stand-alone, bootable USB Flash Drive configuration, which never conflicts with security software — just turn off Secure Boot in your BIOS or UEFI firmware if you have these. Windows Secrets Newsletter published an artcle on how to do this recently.)

I can do just any sort of recovery, reformatting, repartitioning, fixing Windows or GRUB bootloaders, upgrading with Boot Manager repairs, etc., using these tools. For Windows 7, I also installed EasyBCD (info) (free edition) to clarify the Windows Boot Manager on that side of my dual-boot. For GRUB2, I use the GRUB Customizer (Ubuntu Software Center) and if GRUB needs repairs, there’s a wonderful single-click utility on the Grub Boot Repair Disk (also can be set up on a USB Flash Drive) (info). With these tools, nearly any error or glitch can be repaired in only a few minutes. Sure beats spending hours rebuilding or manually doing all the steps of reinstalling Linux.

What I’m saying is, nearly-automatic backup and restoration have been a mainstay for Windows users for years now. Why not put together our own nearly-automatic recovery tools for Linux, if we are serious about using Linux on our computers?

-- rc primak

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